NO The risks of the game are know. The players choose to play so all the responsibility falls on the players that make there own choices.

Yes they do. When the teams pay millions of dollars for a player to be on the team, they will do everything they can to ensure their investment does not sit on the bench. They will push doctors and players.

Likewise, the player wants to keep a contract for a job that many an American male would do for far less.

It boils down to money.

A resonable person would think that if their employer knew they were in a dangerous job and a person was injured, the employer would restrict the employees duties until it was safer for them to once again perform the dangerous job.

No. That is what they get paid the big $ for anyway. It is not like it takes a large IQ to play. Many of the states with good football teams are from redneck/inbreed states anyway.

Players probably took multiple knocks on the head from sandlot to college playing multiple sports before they signed with the NFL. You can't blame it all on the NFL.

If I was a player, however, I'd be concerned. I'd take steps to protect my brain and include the potential for long-term alzeimers/dementia care as part of my retirement planning.

Employers have consistently been held accountable for job-related injuries. Who will be the Upton Sinclair for football?

No more than the fans who buy tickets are. This is yet another transparent attempt to extort money from the NFL on the behalf of players who wound up broke, all in the name of so-called economic justice.

Of course they should bear some responsibility. I find it amazing that the NFL says that there is no link between the game and the brain trauma many of the players suffer from. I remember when tobacco companies said there was no link between cigarettes and cancer too.

Absolutely. The NFL should be required to provide million dollar health insurance policies to each player or face stiff penalties under ObamaCare. These policies should cover everything from ginkgo pills to brain transplants. Of course, these "high-end" plans would be taxable thereby making a big down payment towards the health care reform bill's trillion dollar price tag. Everybody wins! (except the Redskins)

Just my subjective opinion, and not from research (like many who post here)
An employer must make reasonable accommodations to protect employees. Therefore, I claim the employer here is the team ownership, not the NFL. If a burger flipper gets hurt on the job, then care and compensation comes from the franchise owner, not the corporate management. Likewise, I believe the pro sports (to include NBA, NHL, etc) in this country separates the labor from the owner and further manages their leagues from a corporate level. This may not be a bad thing, but one can then understand why that situation would give rise to player unions.

There is a third party involved here that the question does not address: We the Consumer who demand blood sports (some people call it "family entertainment") and provide the NFL for it's reasons to exist.

The situation is similar to sending volunteer soldiers to wars of aggression. Is the volunteer responsible for injuries sustained in battle, or is our government responsible for the soldier's injuries/deaths, or are We the People responsible who elected the government?

@ Skins Fan

I agree

Of course they do. Interesting...the NFL owners/players organization are too progressive to allow Rush Limbaugh to be a part owner in a losing team, but not quite progressive enough to protect their players health/jeopardize their bottom line.

Absolutely, which is why I propose scrapping the NFL in favor of the NFFL (National Flag Football League).

@ V

I am sure someone could twist whatever you watch into bad thing as well. Football is a rough sport, but I would not call it a bloodsport. Now, UFC on the other hand I would call a bloodsport.